By Gail Marsh
You have to fuel up the RV anyway, so why not grab a bite to eat? The six fuel station brands noted below are scattered throughout the U.S. I’m almost certain you’ve stopped at a few of them for fuel and food. Yes, food! Because these fuel stops also feature some of the best trip tastes today, along with reasonable prices!
See if you agree.
Wawa
Wawa’s roots go back to a dairy business in the Philadelphia region. The company began in the early 1900s and opened its first Wawa Food Market in Folsom, Pennsylvania, in 1964.
Today, Wawa is a familiar East Coast convenience store and fuel brand with well over one thousand locations across roughly a dozen states, from Pennsylvania and New Jersey down through Florida and into parts of the Southeast.
Road travelers tend to stop for Wawa’s made-to-order hoagies, grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, and reliable coffee.
Sheetz
Sheetz started as a family convenience store in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in the early 1950s. From there, Sheetz slowly expanded into the made-to-order powerhouse it is today. In recent years, the chain has grown to 700+ locations across several Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states.
Sheetz’s stations offer touchscreen ordering and a huge customizable menu. Think burgers, bowls, mac and cheese, breakfast items, and shakes.
Many 24/7 locations make it a favorite for travelers who keep unusual hours or want a hot, customized meal without a long detour. Sheetz is the kind of fuel station RVers stop for dinner on the road or for cravings between campgrounds.
Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s began in Texas in 1982 and built a reputation for massive, well-stocked travel centers. The brand now operates dozens of super-stores primarily in Texas, with expansion into other Southern states.
Buc-ee’s is known for spotless facilities. (Clean restrooms, anyone?) It has a huge selection of snacks and branded items, along with freshly prepared brisket sandwiches, kolaches, and a long list of bakery items.
Travelers love Buc-ee’s because it’s much more than a gas stop. It’s a break, a souvenir shop, and a food hall all rolled into one. There’s plenty of room to park even large rigs at many travel center locations.
Casey’s General Store
Casey’s began as a small general store in Boone, Iowa, in 1968. Since then, it’s quietly become one of the largest convenience-store chains in the Midwest. Today, Casey’s operates roughly 2,900 stores across about 19 states.
What sets Casey’s apart for many travelers is its pizza. Ooh, that pizza! Scratch-made doughs, regional toppings, and hot-by-the-slice convenience have turned Casey’s pizzas into a beloved comfort food for travelers. (They even have a breakfast pizza. So yummy!)
If you’re traveling through farm country and need an inexpensive, filling meal, Casey’s is often the go-to.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven’s corporate history stretches back to the Southland Ice Company of the 1920s. Over the decades, the Tote-’M stores became 7-Eleven and the brand expanded globally. In the U.S. and Canada alone, 7-Eleven operates more than 13,000 branded stores.
While 7-Eleven offerings vary regionally, travelers frequently rely on it for 24/7 convenience. Who hasn’t enjoyed a Slurpee along with their favorite road trip snack? 7-Eleven also offers value items like pizza slices, taquitos, and ready-to-eat sandwiches. Quick-grab options like these work for short stops or when you don’t want a sit-down meal.
Internationally, 7-Eleven’s success in places like Japan highlights how convenience-store food can be surprisingly high quality. You just might agree with your next stop at 7-Eleven.
QuikTrip (QT)
QuikTrip began in the late 1950s in the Midwest. It’s grown into a 1,000+ store chain that spans much of the Midwest, South, and parts of the Southwest.
QT’s in-store kitchen concept (QT Kitchens) emphasizes fresh, made-to-order items. At QTs, you can enjoy breakfast pizzas, pretzels, and great sandwiches. Their premium coffee is outstanding.
Travelers praise QuikTrip for consistent performance, clean stores, and quick service. This makes it a favorite on busy interstates where you want a fresher option than the usual drive-thru.
For RVers who value speed plus a genuine prepared-food program, QT is an easy, dependable stop.
Common thread
What ties all these brands together for RV travelers is predictability. These fuel stop brands:
- Are widely available on many major routes;
- Offer their own special signature items (hoagies, pizza, made-to-order bowls, brisket sandwiches, Slurpees, QT Kitchen specials); and
- Are easily accessible, with most featuring RV-friendly parking or large travel-center lots.
Your thoughts?
Whether you’re after a fast comfort meal, a coffee that actually tastes good, or a big rest stop where you can stretch out and shop for snacks, these chains have turned gas stops into reliable little destinations on the map.
For planning, check each chain’s store locator or app before arriving. Note that some locations are full travel centers that welcome rigs, while others are small urban lots that may require parking your rig elsewhere.
Do you have a favorite travel fuel stop? What special foods do you usually order?
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RVT1224
Many of the plaza size truck stops, in addition to partnership with a fast-food chain have in-store kitchens with healthier to-go fresh food options. Love’s often puts picnic tables inside the dog runs. We’ve had small chef’s salads for lunch while our dog stretches his legs.
I always try to plan my fuel stops at Buc-ee’s. Don’t want to miss those “hand-made” potato chips.
On a recent trip, Casey’s stood out for its friendly service and High-Octane coffee. I also discovered Maverick, which opened its third location in Las Cruces, NM. Their burritos are amazing.
I’ll second that! Maverik is awesome!
When I was younger, working in and about Wyoming, any gas station food would work. I lived on Rolaids. As I have gotten older, I no longer have that job designation, or any job, so I do not stop for the gas station gut buster. I have stopped at Buckees, once, and I do buy gas/diesel at QT. I wish those options had been available in the Bighorn/Powder River basin area, 35 years ago
Never been to any of those chains except 7-11, which have been everywhere I have lived since I was a kid. I have seen Casey’s and QT stores, but never stopped. However, I may try a QT after reading this article just to sample the coffee and fresh sandwiches.
Based on the stories I have read about the one Buc-ee’s that recently opened in Colorado, I wouldn’t stop there on a bet. Our RV has a cleaner “restroom” than any gas station! And the hype and reported crowds at that Buc-ees remind me of the same hype and crowds when the first CO Krispy Kreme opened. Now Krispy Kreme has to resort to newspaper discount coupons to attract customers.
I could eat breakfast in Buc-ee’s washroom. Give them a try.
Casey’s is commonly seen in my area of Indiana. I love their breakfast pizza. The rest rooms are spacious and every one I’ve been in has been clean.
Got stuck at a Casey’s for a few hours due to a check engine light. Their pizza was really good. Buc-ee’s is a worthwhile stop. Their selection of snack food is really amazing and their sandwiches are good too.
Sting Ray’s Restaurant on US Route 13 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a worthwhile stop. Local food cooked to order, lots of locals eat there, and there is an Exxon station in front.
Thank you for the discussions, Gail! We have seen all of these brandnames over the last several years. I bought gasoline at a Casey’s once when we were in Decatur, Indiana for service on RV #1. My favorite fuel stop is a TA or Petro truck stop. We only buy diesel and sometimes DEF, which is much easier to add from a pump on the fuel island than with those clumsy 2.5 gallon jugs. We haven’t bought food at a truck stop since 2016. Have a great week and safe travels!
Buc-ee’s for me! Clean washrooms, amazingly good salads, and hot coffee!
Yeah, lots of junk food and fatty sandwiches if that is your thing as well.
I always stop here if possible!